Melba M. Akers

Melba Akers, 97, of Creston, died Thursday, April 30, 2026, at the Mount Ayr Health Care Center in Mount Ayr. Celebration of Life Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, May 9, at the First United Methodist Church in Creston. Pastor Jodi Rushing will officiate. Burial will be in the Oakland Cemetery, south of Shannon City. Visitation with family receiving friends will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church.

Memorials will be established at a later date. Online condolences may be given under the obituary at www.powersfh.com.

Melba Marie (Woosley) Akers was born Aug. 20, 1928, daughter of William Emmet Woosley and Marie Viola (Hoffman) Woosley in Shannon City. She graduated from Shannon City High School in 1945, then the University of Iowa and later with a teaching degree from Drake University.

On Nov. 5, 1949, Melba married Lester J. Akers in Osceola. They made their home in the Creston area, where Melba first worked at Orient High School as an English teacher, then went on to teach at Corning High School. Melba then worked as a deputy in the Union County Treasurer’s Office. Her last extended work was for 20 years as a librarian for Southwestern Community College in Creston. Melba retired for the third time in 2014.

Melba was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Creston. She loved to travel, having traveled to every continent except Antarctica. She also loved her family dearly and thoroughly enjoyed watching sporting events.

Melba is survived by three sons: Ted (Kim) Akers of Clarksville, Jeff Akers of Creston and Don (Lisa) Akers of Shannon City; daughter Jean (Dave) Travis of Creston; sister Shirley (Richard) Ide of Shannon City; 11 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren and many other extended family members and friends.

Melba was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Lester in 1991 and three sisters: Freda (LeRoy) Tinker, Jeraldine (Kenny) Scherer and Joan (Bill) Goodale.